ABC’s of your Health: If you were at Harris Ranch early this month you might have been exposed to measles

Getting vaccinated can help stop measles from spreading

Since measles is still common in many countries, unvaccinated travelers bring measles to the U.S. and it can spread. But you can protect yourself, your family, and your community with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

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Since measles is still common in many countries, unvaccinated travelers bring measles to the U.S. and it can spread. But you can protect yourself, your family, and your community with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

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FRESNO

If you have traveled on Interstate 5 early this month and made a stop at Harris Ranch’s Country Store in Coalinga, you may have been exposed to measles, alerts Fresno County Department of Public Health.

Health officials released the alert on Aug. 22.

According to Fresno County health officials, an individual with confirmed measles possibly exposed the public while visiting Fresno County.

The person, who is from Alameda County, visited the Country Store and women’s restroom at Harris Ranch, 24505 W. Dorris Ave. in Coalinga on Aug. 10 between the hours of 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m..

“This travel-associated case is another reminder of why vaccines are important for us to build herd immunity and protect our residents,” said Dr. Sara Goldgraben, Fresno County Health Officer.

Measles is a highly contagious disease and is easily contracted by breathing in air, which has been shared by a person infected with measles.

Common symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (red eyes) and a rash (usually starting on the face and spreading down the body), which usually appears 10 to 12 days after the exposure.

The best prevention measure for measles is to get vaccinated. No vaccine is 100 percent effective. However, if a person is infected with measles, the symptoms will be far less severe if the person is vaccinated.

The Fresno County Department of Public Health is taking steps to contact individuals who were potentially exposed.

Exposure to measles would only have occurred on the date (Aug. 10) and times between 2-3:30 p.m..

Fresno County Department of Public Health advice that anyone who was at the Country Store and the restroom at Harris Ranch that date and during those time frames and show any signs of measles, should stay at home, verify if they have had a measles shot, and contact their health care provider by telephone for instructions.

People with questions about potential exposure can call the health department communicable disease investigation program at (559) 600-3332.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Aug. 11, 124 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 22 states and the District of Columbia.

In 2017, 118 cases from 15 states and the District of Columbia were reported to have measles while in 2016, 86 people from 19 states were reported to have measles, according to CDC.

In 2014, the United States experienced a record number of measles cases, with 667 cases from 27 states reported to CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD); this is the greatest number of cases since measles elimination was documented in the U.S. in 2000.

According to CDC, the majority of people who got measles were unvaccinated.